West Bengal Minister for Power Manish Gupta, who is in-charge of Sagar Mela, told reporters that a large number of the pilgrims have returned after their dip while many were still on their way to the island, where communciation facilities have been improved.

He said an estimated 12 lakh pilgrims have congretated at the island where four pilgrims have died since yesterday due to heart attack.

Sabita Dubey (60) from Raipur died at Ganga Sagar yesterday. Gita Bai (64) from Indore died at Lot 8, Chaya Bai Khandokar (55) from Nagpur died at Kochuberia and Manik Sarkar (53) from Alipore in Kolkata died at Ganga Sagar today, he said.

Gupta said the police have arrested 65 people from the mela and seized Rs 28,000, eight mobile phones and three wrist watches from them.

A total 2090 were reported lost in the mela, 1001 of them from outside the state. However, only 452 of them are yet to return to their families, he added.